Careers at Zaller Law Group

Billable expectation: Reduced billable target with primary emphasis on firm leadership, operations, and attorney management. You will still handle litigation strategy, client advice, and select matters.

About Zaller Law Group

Zaller Law Group is a thriving, growing boutique firm dedicated exclusively to defending California employers. Founded in 2017, we combine sophisticated litigation defense with proactive counseling, education, and strategic risk management. Our clients are business leaders and innovators who rely on us to navigate California’s complex employment laws (wage & hour, PAGA, discrimination, leaves, and more) while helping their businesses succeed.

This Managing Partner role is designed to free the Founding Partner to focus on strategic direction, growth, and thought leadership while you ensure the firm operates with excellence, accountability, client focus, and efficiency.

The role

This is not a “keep-the-seat-warm” title. This is a hands-on Managing Partner role for a practice that is growing fast enough to require real leadership, not vibes, slogans, or endless meetings about meetings.

You will work closely with firm leadership to run the practice and elevate performance, including attorney oversight, workflow management, hiring support, quality control, mentoring, client relationship stewardship, and execution of firm-wide marketing and business development plans. A portable book of business is valuable but not required. The firm offers a strong platform for business development without making it the entire personality of the job.

Key responsibilities

Firm operations & attorney management

• Lead day-to-day management of the employer defense practice, including workflow, staffing, case strategy alignment, capacity planning, and attorney performance.

• Build and refine systems that keep matters moving: assignment structure, timelines, and accountability.

• Monitor workload balance, track attorney billable hours (target: 150 hours/month), and ensure deadlines are met.

• Conduct monthly one-on-ones and lead regular operations meetings; coach, mentor, and develop attorneys; support hiring, onboarding, training, and firm culture.

• Maintain consistency and high quality in work product, pleadings, motions, discovery, and client communications.

Client service & compliance initiatives

• Act as a senior advisor to employer clients on high-stakes decisions and risk management.

• Oversee firm-wide compliance initiatives, including annual handbook and policy updates, new hire packet reviews, and PAGA audits and readiness reviews.

• Coordinate year-end client outreach on new California employment laws and initiatives to update handbooks, new hire packets, minimum wage charts, and related materials.

• Manage and deepen key client relationships; identify issues before they become lawsuits; track satisfaction and ensure deliverables are completed on time.

Marketing & business development

• Lead execution of firm marketing initiatives and visibility efforts.

• Oversee monthly webinars (topics, presenters, promotion, and follow-up).

• Manage relationships with trade associations and industry partners.

• Track marketing ROI and ensure follow-up on leads and speaking opportunities; support origination efforts.

• Ensure consistent communication across newsletters, social media, and events.

Legal work (yes, you’ll still practice)

• Handle and/or oversee litigation strategy for matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination; wage & hour (including class/PAGA exposure); leave laws (FMLA/CFRA), accommodations/interactive process, discipline, and termination.

• Lead high-level motion practice, deposition strategy, mediations, and trial preparation.

• Coordinate responses and strategy with administrative agencies (e.g., EEOC/CRD/DLSE as applicable).

Strategic & administrative leadership

• Collaborate with the Founding Partner on firm goals and growth strategy.

• Assist with planning and execution of the Zaller Employers Summit and similar events.

• Ensure internal operations support firm business goals and provide accountability and follow-through on firm-wide initiatives.

Qualifications

Must-haves

• J.D. from an accredited law school

• Active California Bar membership (in good standing)

• Significant employer-side employment law experience, including wage & hour and PAGA case experience (litigation + counseling)

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and keep cases from drifting

• Strong judgment, strong writing, and strong client presence

Preferred

• Prior leadership experience (practice lead, supervising partner, team lead, etc.)

• Trial/arbitration experience or meaningful first-chair responsibility

• Portable book of business (helpful, not mandatory)

Work style / culture fit

In-office presence is required in our collaborative El Segundo office. The firm is fast-moving and this role is built for visibility and engagement. Ideal candidates are steady under pressure, allergic to excuses, proactive, clear communicators, accountable, collaborative, and client-focused. You can correct course without crushing morale.

What success looks like (first 90–180 days)

• Matters are assigned cleanly, moving predictably, and staffed appropriately

• Attorneys know what “good” looks like, and deadlines stop being a recurring surprise

• Clients feel cared for and proactively advised

• Leadership trusts the practice is running, not just surviving, with improved team communication, accountability, and efficiency

• Marketing and business initiatives are executed on schedule; firm profitability and client satisfaction are trending positively

About the firm

Zaller Law Group, PC is a California-based law firm focused on employment defense for companies of all sizes throughout the state. The firm’s attorneys are experienced employment litigators and advisers, handling matters ranging from complex class actions involving thousands of employees to single-plaintiff harassment and discrimination claims. The firm serves as a strategic legal and business partner to its clients. Zaller Law Group offers cost-effective, “in-house” style corporate counsel services tailored to diverse organizational needs. The firm emphasizes practical, business-oriented solutions grounded in deep knowledge of California employment law.

The role

This is a full-time employment attorney role, open to hybrid or remote work. The Employment Attorney will manage a caseload of employment law matters, including litigation, administrative proceedings, and pre-litigation disputes. Responsibilities include drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery; taking and defending depositions; preparing for and appearing at hearings, mediations, and trials; and providing day-to-day counseling on employment law issues to employer clients. The role also involves conducting legal research, preparing opinion letters and policy reviews, and advising on compliance with California and federal employment laws. The attorney will collaborate closely with colleagues and clients to develop strategies that align legal risk management with business objectives.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in employment law, with the ability to interpret and apply California and federal statutes and regulations.

• Ability to provide practical legal advice to employers, including policy development, compliance counseling, and risk mitigation.

• Proficiency in legal research to support litigation, advisory work, and client training materials.

• Effective negotiation skills for resolving disputes, participating in mediations, and managing settlement discussions.

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California.

• 6+ years of experience in employment litigation and/or counseling (more experience strongly valued).

• Excellent legal writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills, with strong attention to detail and organization.

• Ability to manage multiple matters, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience representing employers in California employment matters is required.